Malai
Certified Tutor
As a certified teacher with eleven years of experience, I truly love teaching students of all ages. I have ten years of experience tutoring and providing test prep to students around the world in grades PK-College in all subject areas. Currently, I serve as a school-wide Math Coach at an elementary school. I am known for my nurturing and loving, yet firm teaching style.
I have a Master's degree in Education and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction. I am also a Certified Academic Life Coach via Coach Training EDU. I have a passion for researching how children learn and methods of instruction that can best help them stay engaged while using higher order thinking skills.
I have taught in a variety of environments including Montessori and Project-Based Learning. For two years, I have taught high school students test prep skills in a summer program at a local college. I believe all students can learn. As an educator, it is my duty to find out each student's individual learning style to best meet their needs.
Personally, the qualities I am most proud of are my optimism, organizational skills, ability to motivate other, my love for the process of learning. My goal is to help my students reach their highest level of success. Thank you for the opportunity to briefly share my journey and I hope to join you on your educational journey!
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Undergraduate Degree: University of South Carolina-Columbia - Bachelors, Journalism and Mass Communications
Graduate Degree: University of South Carolina-Columbia - PHD, Education
Traveling, Pinterest, Painting
- 3rd Grade Science
- 4th Grade Science
- 5th Grade Science
- Academic Coaching
- Adult Literacy
- ASVAB Prep
- Basic Computer Literacy
- College Application Essays
- College English
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- HSPT Language Skills
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE- Primary
- MAP Prep
- Math
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Phonics
- PRAXIS
- Public Speaking
- Reading
- Science
- Spelling Bee
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Technology and Coding
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
To teach is to touch eternity! I believe teaching touches future generations and shapes our world. My philosophy of teaching is to engage students in learning they believe in and have ownership. The person doing all the talking is the person doing all the learning. I believe in conversational teaching and application of knowledge. Learning is not just for the classroom, but it's for the real world.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a typical first session, I would like to get to know my student. I want to know their strengths and weaknesses in the academic subject they are seeking tutoring. In my first session, we discuss grades and teacher feedback. We also set goals to help guide future sessions. I also like to learn what type of the learner the student is to prepare high-quality lessons.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
To help a student become an independent learner, I like to find out the student's current learning habits. Becoming an independent learner requires discipline and practice. We will set goals to move into independence.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
To motivate students, I strongly believe in setting long and short-term goals. It gives students a sense of accomplishment when they reach their goals. Also, I am all about positive praise and encouragement.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
As an educator, my first step is identifying the root of the difficulty. Often times, students may need strengthening in one area (ex: multiplication fact fluency) to better understand the concept (ex: converting a mixed number into an improper fraction.) Skills are connected and if one area is lacking then it will have an affect on the other area.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
To help students who are struggling with reading comprehension, I like to assess the student’s level of decoding (vowel and consonant sounds, blends) and sight words. If the phonetic awareness is present, the next step is to model reading comprehension and how to use context clues when reading a text.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I believe building a rapport with students is a key to success. In my initial session as we work through math problems or reading, I like to learn more about the students' style of learning. This helps me in planning lessons geared toward the student's interests.